Improvement in combined thermostats and fire-alarm signal-boxes



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UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFTE.

or QUINoY,

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED THERMOSTATS ANI) FIRE-ALARM SIGNAL-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,662, dated July 2, 1872.

l-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDREW ROSEN- BUscl-:r and THnoDoRE WILLIAM KREITZ, of the cityof Quincy, Adams county, Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Im` provements in Fire-Alarm Indicators, of which the following is a speeicationfreference being had to theaccompanying drawing.

Nature and Objects of the Intention.

The invention pertains to the application of the expanding power of heat to automatic telegraphing, and is instanced in the present case as applied to operating a telegraphic lire-alarm.` The invention relates to an alarmindicator, the operation of whichis effected through the expansion of a wire or other agent '-in revolving it operates the striker so as to in- Idicate upon the wire telegraphic signals and fsymbols, the indicator being further provided A with an auxiliary slide, whereby the mechanism sustaining the gravity of the weight isv freed, and the alarm may -be communicated through the operation of the weight, causing v'the'movement of the disk and consequent action of the striker.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing. Figure 1 is a view of a device embodying Athe elements of the invention, being a vertical longitudinal section through theline V V of Fig. 3. I Fig. 2 is a view of the same, being a similar section through the line I I of Fig. 3. Fig. 3`is a side view ofthe same device. Fig.

General Description. Y A is aplatform of requisite dimensions, and

suitably provided with means for being sus-A pended on' its longitudinal center of gravity. AUpon one side of the platform A is placed the wire B, in suchmanner thatit doesnot touch the platform at anypoint.v This wire may be of any requisite diameter, according to the degree of heat at .which the device is intended to operate; and, as to material, those metals which are most susceptible to the action of heat are preferred. The greater the length of the wire B the more readily it expands. The wire B is securedat one end to the extremity of a screw orpin, a, near one end of the lever D, whence it passes overa rounded block, Z4, thence downward 4to and over the grooved pulley-wheel C; thence it extends upward to, and its other end is secured .irmly to, the regulating-screw E. It is obvious that, upon any part of the wire B being heated or otherwise expanded, its tension upon the end of the lever D is diminished, and consequently, as the weight of the lever preponderates greatly at its end opposite that to which the wire B is secured, such heavier end must descend as the wire is expanded by heat or'otherwise relaxed. The regulating-screw E is intended to fix the tension of the wire B upon the lever D, and alsov to tighten or relax the wire, thus affording a greater or less extent of surfaceA 4below the lever, upon which the heat may opcrate; accordingly the greater the tension of the wire the less susceptible it becomesto the action of the heat, and vice versa. The lever D is pivoted to the platform A by the pivot c at that end thereof at which the wire is attached, the rounded block b intervening between the platform and lever to prevent these parts coming in contact and allow the lever to oscillate freely. The opposite end of the lever is provided on its upper edge with a weight, d, soV as to give the lever a downward action at this end. 0n the outer surface of this weight is provided a nger or pointer, c, immediately below which, and fixed upon the platform, is the scale f, properly graduated; thus, as the wire is tightened or relaxed by regulating the screw E, the pointer e indicates, respectively, a higher or lower mark on the I scale f, and consequently that the device is set to operate at a greater or less degree of heat. The lower edge of the weighted end of the lever is provided with the standard F, depending at right angles to the lever, its lower end being in close relation to or touching the upper surface of the lever H. In case these parts are separated the distance between them should be such that when the wire B is heated to the degree of operation as indicated by the pointer e, the standard F may have the necessary depression. The lever H is pivoted to the platform A in such manner as to vibrate clear thereof,-and at one end is provided with the weight g, adjacent to, and between which and the pivot h, the lower extremity of the standard F impinges upon the lever H, the pivot h being so placed that the gravity of the lever preponderates on that side thereof h opposite the weighted end. Adjacent to the pivot h is placed the rest fi, to prevent the lever swinging too far downward. The extreme end of the lever H extends until it comes in contact with the pin k placed on the rear end of the shaft l, and at right angles thereto. The shaft l worksin bearings in the case I and platform A, and is provided with a pinion, m, which engages the spur gearwheel n on the shaft o, which works in bearvings in the case and platform, and has on its outer part a pinion, p, which engages a spur gear-wheel, q, on the shaft r, working in bearing in the case and platform, and having on its inner part a pinion, s. The shafts lo r, with their pinions and gear-wheels, are intended to render the movement of the device even and regular, and may, under certain conditions, be dispensed with. It is obvious that the pin 7c may be used upon the shaft L or disk P, in a manner similar to that shown in the present instance, by placing the lever H and its adjuncts lower down on the device. The pinion s engages the spur gear-wheel J mounted on.' the shaft L, and provided with the spring t operating the pawl u, which acts upon the ratchet-wheel rw, so that the device may be wound up without moving the wheel J, but which wheel does move in conjunction with the drum M when the device is in operation. Between the ratchet-wheel w and the drum M isprovided athin disk of metal to retain the pawl u in its proper position. The drum M is provided with a ledge or guard at each end, and has attached to it one end of a wire or cord, N, which passes downward through an aperture in the case I, its lower end being secured to a weight, a', of requisite gravity. The disk P revolves upon the shaft L, adjacent to the ratchet-wheel Z, and is provided with a spring, S, operating apawl, R, which acts upon the ratchet-wheel z, so that, though the disk P may be rotated independently of the drum M, yet, when the latter is moved,the disk P revolves; or the disk P may be secured directly against the drum M or on the shaft L. The striker U is pivoted between the jaws a', at the end of the wire V, which is connected with the telegraphic wire, and has on the upper surface of the end adjacent to its pivot the studs T, the point of which impinges upon the general circumference of the disk P. The striker is so pivoted that its weight prepon- .derates at the end opposite the stud T, and has upon the lower surface of Vthis end a head, A

which, when the point of the stud T enters an indentation on the circumference of the disk P, falls upon the insulated telegraph-wire X,

connecting the device with a battery and readf ing apparatus at the pointwhere the alarm is to be announced. The radius of the diskP is such that in revolving its general circumference impinges upon the point of the stud T. This circumference is so arranged that as the disk P revolves it operates the striker in such manner as to c ause the head A to rise from or strike upon or remain in contact withv the wire X, giving telegraphic symbols corresponding to the indentations and elevations upon the periphery of the disk. Thus, as the disk revolves, at every elevation the striker U is raised andthe circuit is broken; consequently a space occurs equal to the length of the curve of the-particular elevation on the disk in contact with the point of the stud T. At every indentation the striker falls, the eircuit is established, and, consequently, a line or point is formed equal to the extent of the bars of the particular indentation on the disk P, into which the point of the stud T enters. It is thus obvious that the disk P may be so arranged as to communicate any desired names or numbers to the place with which the device is connected by wires V and X. The ratchetwheels w and z, 'drum M, and disks c and z have common centers at which they are rigidly secured to the shaft L, the outer part of which projects through the case I, and is provided with an angular shoulder upon which a key or crank may be fitted to wind up the device. It is obvious that the device may be operated in a manner analogous to the foregoing by the employment of any agent susceptible to the expansive action of heat, it being only necessary to depress the weighted end of the lever H, which frees the pin k, thus allowing the gravity of the weight a: to operate the device; hence, a tube filled with any liquid or quicksilver may be placed upon the platform in such position that one of its orifices stands immediately above the weighted end of the lever H; this tube being of siphon shape and so filled that upon its being heated a portion of its contents will pass over the siphon and fall upon the lever H, thus depressing its weighted end and allowing the device to operate; or a piece of metal may besecured above the weighted end of the lever H, which, upon being heated, shall expand so as to depress such end and produce the above-mentioned eect. Instead of aweight and a cord, as in the present instance, a coiled spring may be employed to eect the revolution of the shaft L. To the end that the invention may be operated without the action of heat, the platform A is provided with the slide Z, working vertically in the strap w, through which and a slot in the slide passes a pin, a. The vlower end of the slide is provided with a hook or other suitable means of operating it, the upper end having a recess,m', partially inclosing the weighted end of thelever H; thus, by drawing down the slide, the end of the lever is de? pressed and the operation Vof the invention proceeds, while `a contrary movement of the slide Zforces upthe weighted end of the lever H, bringingits opposite end in contact withthe pin lo, thus stopping the operation of the device..V In order that when the device is being woundup the reverse action of the disk P may not move the striker U, there may be provided a screw, X, which passes upward through `the lower surface of the case I, its upper end coming directly below the lower surfaceof the strikerlat aV point intermediate between its pivot andhammer;` this screw being so arranged that when it is screwed up it.`

elevates the weighted end of .the striker, and

when screwed down does'not come in contact therewith. Y

. Opration;

' Suspend the device so that the weight may descend the full length of the cord or. wire N and as nearthe ceiling of the apartment as practicable attach the wires V and Xto a tele.` graphic wire connectingwith the place at which theoperation Aof the device is to be indicated, screw up the screw X to avoid any telegraphic operation from the movement ofthe disk P, which is properly. arranged to indicate the number or name of the premises wherein itis placed, the point of the stud T beingin'contact with that portionof the circumference of the disk, which in its revolutionsfprecedes the indentations. Presuming the cord N to .be entirely'paid out, apply thekey to the angular part of the shaft L, outside the case I, turn the same, thus winding the cord orwireN np on the drum M, the ratchet-wheels being so arranged that only the drum M, ratchet-wheel z, and disks y and P are rotated. Screw down the screw X. The invention is now ready for operation. It is obvious that should a iire break out in the vicinity of the device an imfrom contact vwith the pin 7c and permitting the gravity of the weight :r to cause the drum M to revolve, thus rotating the disk P, which operates the striker U, the hammer of which acts upon the wire X, thus telegraphing the number or name .according to the arrangement `of the disk P, which operation continues so long as the wireis heated and until the length.

of the cord or wire is exhausted, but ceases when the wire becomes coldor the extent of `the cord or wire is reached.

Claims.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The wire B, suspending the lever D, in combination with the screw E and scale f, substantially as shown and described.

2. The lever H, pin k, disk P, striker U, and

wire X in combination with the shaft L, oper ated by the' cord or wire N and weight w or a spring, substantially as shown and described. 3. The combination of the lever H, pin k, and slide Z, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with a irealarm indi cator operating through the action of heat, of a means of operating the same manually, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing im provements in fire-alarm indicators, as above described, we have hereunto set our hands andseals this 29th day of April, 1872.

ANDREW ROSENBUSCH. [L. 5.] THEODORE WILLIAM KREITZ. [L s.] Witnesses:

J oHN G. WHITE, THos. T. WOODRUFF. 

